Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Paul Emmett Duncan III known as “Paul Duncan,” who was 35, died of a heart attack when he was out for a run in his neighborhood on Friday, according to his wife.
On Saturday, Ellen Duncan, Duncan’s wife, took to Instagram to share the tragic news that her husband had died unexpectedly.
“Yesterday, Friday July 15th, Paul went into cardiac arrest while on a run in our neighborhood,” the bereaved wife announced. “Today he was pronounced brain dead. We will have a medical examination to understand cause of death.”
According to Ellen, Paul’s body will be “donated to people in need of organs and to medical research”.
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Days following Paul’s death, Ellen Duncan shared a photo and a video of him on her Instagram account.
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According to Paul’s obituary, “visitation will be held Sunday, July 24, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel. Family and friends will gather to celebrate Paul’s life at a memorial Mass on Monday, July 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church. Interment will immediately follow at the columbarium on the grounds of the church.”
“In a life full of giving to others, Paul’s final gift was a great and lasting deed. He was an organ donor who has already helped numerous patients in need,” his obituary reads.
Paul is survived by his wife, Ellen, and their adoring daughters, Dillon and Sloane; his parents, Paul and Julie Duncan; his three sisters and their spouses, Deana and Nicholas Ham, Mary-Margaret and Matthew Small, and Virginia “Bonnie” and Kiersten Duncan; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Paul Duncan was an offensive lineman for the Fighting Irish from 2005-09. After receiving his degree, Duncan played with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent, per ND Insider.
In the wake of Paul’s passing, numerous tributes have been offered.
Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Paul Duncan.
A great teammate, but more importantly a loving husband and father. pic.twitter.com/8VEDBy2nYf
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 20, 2022
Sad to hear class of 2009 Notre Dame OL Paul Duncan passed away suddenly at the age of 35.
A husband and a father, sending love and prayers to his family and friends. ☘️💚
— Barstool Irish (@BarstoolIrish) July 20, 2022
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Duncan. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife Ellen, the Duncan family, Paul’s friends, and teammates. May the Good Lord grant Paul eternal rest and hold his loved ones in the palms of His hands. 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/biN4xODvU5
— Holtz’s Heroes Foundation (@HoltzHeroes) July 19, 2022
Please keep the family of Paul Duncan , @notredame class of 2009 in your prayers. He passed suddenly while on a jog. He played for @ndfootball and was loved by all. He leaves behind a wife and 2 young girls. #ndfamily #ndalumni 🙏🏻☘️ pic.twitter.com/2Le43CCAb1
— The New ND Network (@TNNDN) July 19, 2022
